as in difficult
requiring considerable physical or mental effort
the book's abstruse subject matter and dense prose make for effortful reading
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Recent Examples of effortful
The film is a feat of maximalist and moody production design and cinematography, but the tedious and overwrought script renders every character two-dimensional, despite the effortful acting and teary pronunciations.
—
Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Somehow, organizational antibodies that should have kicked in to prevent this effortful process weren’t there.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
Cronin said that the Ducks’ recent pair of losses to the Kings – the Ducks also lost to their crosstown rivals, 3-2, on Saturday in Ontario – demonstrated some of what his club should emulate in terms of effortful shot-blocking and aggressive forechecking.
—Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 1 Oct. 2024
Instead of simplifying the process, Whole Foods found a way to make checking out with an alcohol purchase significantly more effortful.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for effortful
Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
Somehow, organizational antibodies that should have kicked in to prevent this effortful process weren’t there.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
Cronin said that the Ducks’ recent pair of losses to the Kings – the Ducks also lost to their crosstown rivals, 3-2, on Saturday in Ontario – demonstrated some of what his club should emulate in terms of effortful shot-blocking and aggressive forechecking.
—Andrew Knoll, Orange County Register, 1 Oct. 2024
Instead of simplifying the process, Whole Foods found a way to make checking out with an alcohol purchase significantly more effortful.
—Roger Dooley, Forbes, 26 Sep. 2024
See All Example Sentences for effortful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for effortful
Adjective
-
Third, operational command of Kamikaze planes is difficult because results cannot be evaluated with any accuracy.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Instead, the major drama comes in the form of Ivy’s corruption by her acting coach, as Ivy gradually goes method and becomes as difficult to work with as Marilyn was (one of this musical’s many meta moments).—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But in more challenging economic times, homeowners are seeking ways to make upgrades without breaking the bank.—
Janeé Bolden,
Essence,
4 Apr. 2025
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Having a terminal diagnosis is challenging but also clarifying.—
Ashley M. Wilcox,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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That’s the cost of such rigorous theming: Since you’re supposed to be inside a game, anything that gets in the way of that illusion is banned.—
Todd Anderson,
New York Times,
5 Apr. 2025
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There are a variety of platforms that can support rigorous experimentation and analysis.—
Roli Saxena,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Even if Denver had that many future second-rounders to offer this summer, doing so two consecutive years would be a tough pill to swallow.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2025
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If a tough memory comes up, imagine your adult self swooping in to take care of your child self.—
Carolyn L. Todd,
SELF,
4 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Scene-stealing comedic parts in the Pitch Perfect franchise and on series like Modern Family led to more physically demanding opportunities in series like The Righteous Gemstones.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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Here’s a brief comparison between top programs in the United States and the United Kingdom: • U.S. Programs (e.g., Wharton, Kellogg): These are typically two years long with frequent in-person sessions; these programs offer an immersive but demanding experience.—
Shai Zamanian,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Sandoval has received some pay bumps, including a temporary $10,000-a-year bonus for Hawaii special education teachers designed to alleviate shortages in that and other hard-to-staff areas.—
Alia Wong,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2023
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Whether those numbers are an overstatement, or possibly an understatement, is hard to say.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Effortful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effortful. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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